Costco’s Kirkland Signature Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon is a high-proof whiskey with flavors often described as caramel, oak and vanilla, followed by a spicy finish. Made by Barton Master Distillers, the 120-proof bourbon typically sells for around $30.

Its strength and bold flavor make it suited to cocktails that might overwhelm a lower-proof whiskey. Three good matches are the boulevardier, the paper plane and the revolver.

Boulevardier

A bittersweet cousin of the Negroni, the boulevardier combines bourbon, Campari and sweet vermouth. The cocktail dates to 1920s Paris and was first published in Harry MacElhone’s 1927 bar guide, Barflies and Cocktails.

Campari and sweet vermouth have assertive flavors that can overpower a standard 80-proof bourbon. The Kirkland single barrel’s higher proof gives it enough backbone to remain noticeable, while its spice helps balance the drink’s sweetness and bitterness.

Paper plane

Created by bartender Sam Ross in 2008, the paper plane brings together bourbon, Amaro Nonino, Aperol and lemon juice in equal proportions—traditionally three-quarters of an ounce of each.

The citrus and distinctive liqueurs call for a bourbon that can hold its own. The Kirkland whiskey’s higher proof helps it stand up to the lemon juice and dilution from ice, while complementing the herbal notes of Amaro Nonino and the rhubarb-orange character of Aperol.

Revolver

The revolver is a bourbon-forward Manhattan variation developed by San Francisco bartender Jon Santer in 2004. It replaces sweet vermouth with coffee liqueur and uses orange bitters in place of Angostura bitters. Its bourbon-to-coffee-liqueur ratio is typically four to one.

A robust bourbon keeps the coffee liqueur’s rich sweetness from dominating the drink. The Kirkland single barrel’s high proof and spice provide contrast, while its oak notes pair well with the coffee flavors.